The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Do not make Gandhi Jayanthi a ritual, pleads Governor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 03, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Do not make Gandhi Jayanthi a ritual, pleads Governor

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, OCT. 2. Clearly unhappy with the ``ritualistic'' function organised by the State Government on Gandhi Jayanthi, the Governor, P.S. Ramamohan Rao, today expressed the hope that ``things will be different from next year onwards.''

Suggesting that authorities organise discourses and bhajans, Mr. Rao said, ``a different function must be held where we can sit among the audience and try to understand Gandhiji's life and teachings... Future functions should not feature mere speeches by Governor and Ministers.''

Three `dharmas'

The Governor also regretted that ``Gandhi Jayanthi had become ``a kind of ritual, often devoid of its significance." He called upon school children to remember that besides waging the independence struggle, Gandhi advocated three dharmas— truth, non-violence and sarvodhaya.

Mr. Rao said India would be respected in other parts of the world only ``if it becomes strong by developing self-respect and self-confidence, and when every Indian is able to hold his head high.''

He distributed prizes to school and college students who won oratorical, essay and painting contests.

The Education and Commercial Taxes Minister, C.V. Shanmugam, said that because of Gandhiji's efforts Indians were able to breathe freedom, and that students must emulate the Mahatma. He said the Chief Minister's Namadhu Gramam scheme was a step towards realising the Mahatma's vision.

The Information & Publicity and Local Administration Minister, K.P. Anbalagan, described Gandhiji as a symbol of a resurgence and embodiment of love and non-violence. He said the Government had sanctioned Rs. 200 crores for the Namadhu Gramam scheme, and helped self-help groups become a movement.

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